Pittsburgh, PA – Travon Woodall scored a career-high 25 ranked 56, in the season opener for both teams.
Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh's leading scorer last season, had 21 points and seven assists for the Panthers (1-0), who are trying to rebound after failing to reach the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year.
The Panthers finished 28-6 last season and claimed their sixth Big East regular season title in school history.
But Pittsburgh failed to meet expectations as the top-seeded Panthers were upset by the eight-seeded Butler Bulldogs, 71-70, in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
Nasir Robinson and John Johnson chipped in eight points, and Dante Taylor had seven points and eight rebounds in the victory.
Gerardo Suero was 9-of-16 from the charity stripe and led all Albany scorers with 17.
Logan Aronhalt added 13 points for the Great Danes (0-1), who posted a 9-7 mark in the America East last season.
Gibbs led all first-half scorers with 15 as the Panthers took a commanding 47-26 advantage at the break.
Pittsburgh shot 54 percent from the field, hit 13-of-22 from three and outrebounded Albany, 35-23.
The Great Danes converted just 3-of-17 from beyond the arc.
Game Notes
Pittsburgh won its only previous meeting with Albany in 2003, 83-54...The Panthers have won four Big East regular season titles since 2000...Pittsburgh plays its second game of a four-game homestand to open the season on Sunday against the Rider Broncs.
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